Acetylene-gas generator.



No. 745.603. PATENTED DEC. 1, 1903.

J. s. HARGER & R. B. BALDWIN.

AGETYLENE GAS GENERATOR. APPLICATION FILED MAR 2?. 1902.

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R0 MODEL PATENTBD DEC. 1, 1903. J. S. HARGER & R. B. BALDWIN.

AOETYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

APPLIGATION FILED MAR. 27, 1902.

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- PATENTED DEG. 1, 1903.

'J. s. HARGER & a. -B.; BALDWIN.

AGETYLENE GAS GENERATOR APPLICATION FILED MAR. 27. 1902 4 SHEETSSHEBT' H0 MODEL.

170,745,603. i, PATENTBD DEG.1 1903. I

J. s. HARGER & R. B. BALDWIN.

AGETYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

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UNITED STATES Patented December 1, 1903:

PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN S. HARGER AND ROBERT B. BALDWIN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ACETYLEN E-GAS G EN ERATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 745,603, dated December 1, 1903.

Application filed March 2'7, 1902.

To all whom it may concern:

' Be it known that we, JOHN S. HARGER and ROBERT B. BALDWIN, both citizens of the United States, and residents of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of-Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Acetylene- Gas Generators,of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to machines for generating acetylene gas and supplying the same in regulated quantities to a source of utilization. l

The machine embodying our invention is of that type wherein the calcium" carbid is fed to a body of water at intervals, the carbid being contained in boxes or cartridges, preferably of uniform size and capacity, and bein g introduced to the water at intervals which are regulated by the consumption of the gas produced, the feeding of the ca-rbid and the control of thegas generated being rendered entirely automatic.

The principal object of our invention is to provide a machine of this type characterized by simplicity and compactness of construction, economy of cost, and reliability and safety in operation.

Our invention has been more especially designed with reference to its use as-furnishing a headlight for locomotives and for car-lighting purposes; but its use is by no means confined to such applications of the device.

To such and other minor ends our invention consists in an acetylene-generator having the novel features of construction and mode of operation hereinafter described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In theaccompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of an apparatus embodying our invention in a preferred form. Fig. 2 is an end elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is a top plan view. Fig. 4 is a detail of an automaticallyopera'ted valve controlling the connection between the service and blow-0E pipes. Fig. 5 is a detail of a port-ion of the mechanism through which the intermittent feed of the carbid is effected, showing also a controlling device therefor governed by the rise and fall of the gas tank or reservoir. Fig. 6 is a detail of a three-way valve and connections. Fig. 7 is a detail top plan View of the carbid crate holder, the same being shown empty to Serial No. 100,318. (No model.)

more clearly illustrate the formation of the opening in its base. of the carbid-crate removed from its contain ing box or holder. Fig.9 is an end view of the carbid-crate, and Fig. 10 isa transverse vertical section thereof on the line 1010 of Fig. 8.

Referring to the drawings, 6 designates the individual members of a group of four uprights arranged to constitute the corner mem bers of a rectangular frame which is surmounted by a shallow rectangular box or casing 7. The floor or bottom of this box has formed therethrongh a transverse opening extending entirely 'thereacross, which Fig. 8 is a top plan view S opening, as shown infiFig. 3, has a straight I margin on one side thereof, as indicated at 7, while the opposite margin of the opening has a staggered or stepped formation in a direction slightly oblique to the straight opening 7*, as shownat 7 7, 7, and 7 To the under side of the floor or bottom of the box 7 is secured a narrow hopper 8, having downwardly-converging end walls, the open receiving-mouth of the hopper being located beneath and surrounding the opening in the base of the box. The lower contracted end of the hopper 8 terminates in a dischargespout 9, which is preferably. a tube or cylinder of considerable diameter and formed of yielding or flexible material, as rubber or canvas,-or a combination of these two. The lower end 'ofthe tube 9 is secured fast to a cap or'cover 10, forming a closure for an underlying bucket 11, disposed centrally between the uprights of the frame and constituting the generating-chamber of the device.

The cap 10 hermetically closes the open mouth of the bucket through the intervention of a suitable gasket 12 and a 'pair of oppositelylocated thumb-nuts 13, screwing down over the upper ends of threaded pins 14, which latter are mounted at their lower ends on laterally-projecting pinslfi, on which the bail 16 is hung, the pins 1; extending upwardly through holes or slots formed in lateral ears 10 of the cap 10. 7

Within and transversely of the box or casing 7 is located a rectangular crate 17 which latter rests upon the bottom of the box and is disposed somewhat obliquely to the end walls thereof, as shown in Fig. 3, and issubdivided by longitudinal partitions 17 and ICO transverse partitions 17 into a series, herein shown as twelve, of compartments 18, open at top and bottom and each adapted to contain a rectangular box or cartridge 19, containing a quantity of calcium carbid, (indicated at 20.) One side of the crate 17 is provided with a triangular-shaped lateral extension 21, and one end thereof has a similar triangular endwise extension 22, these two extensions together constituting a guide for the reciprocations of the crate across the base of its containingcasing 7 in such a manner as to maintain constant the angle of inclination of the crate to the casing. In practice the crate 17, with its contained cartridges, is designed to be drawn over the base of the box or casing 7 entirely across the transverse opening therein, already described, and the relation of the several compartments 18 of the crate to the staggered or stepped edge of the opening is such that the cartridges will fall out of the crate through said opening one by one from the longitudinal compartments in successive order as the crate is advanced across the opening.

The gas holder or reservoir (designated as an entirety by 23) is, as shown in Fig. 1, disposed alongside of the generator already described, and, as herein shown, consists of a vertically disposed bellows-like structure,

the opposite end Walls of which are framed up from a series of su perposed lazy-tongs 24, mounted to slide vertically over a pair of vertical supports 25, disposed centrally thereof. The ends ofthe gas-holder are closed by covers 26, embraced within top and bottom rectangular metal frames 27 and 28, thereby providing a gas-reservoir capable of expanding and contracting longitudinally or vertically thereof to accommodate varying volumes of gas therein. A pipe (designated as an entirety by 29) taps the base of the casing 7 and extends thence in suitably-disposed horizontal and vertical sections to the bottom wall or floor of the gas-holder centrally thereof, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, this pipe serving to convey the gas produced in the-generator from the upper chamber 7 thereof to the gas holder or reservoir. The several sections of this pipe are disposed as follows: A short vertical section 29, Figs. 1 and 2, tapping the base of the casing 7; a horizontal section 29?, Figs. land 3; a second horizontal section 29,

extending at right angles thereto, Figs. 2 and 3; a third horizontal section 29 extending at right angles to the section 29 and parallel with the section 29, Figs. 1 and 3; a vertical section 29 Figs. 1 and 2, and finally a horizontal section 29 disposed obliquely of the base of the gas-holder hereinafter described. A vertically-extending service-pipe 30 taps the pipe 29 at the junction of the horizontal and Vertical sections 29 and 29 thereof, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, while a blow-off pipe taps the horizontal section 29 of the gas-conductor pipe, said blow-01f pipe consisting, as herein shown, of a short vertical section 31,

superposed on the pipe-section 29, Figs. 1 and 2, a horizontal section 31 Figs. 1 and 3, and another vertical section 31, Figs. 1, 2, and 3. The blow-off and service pipes are united, preferably, at a point slightly above the junction of the service-pipe with the conductor-pipe to the gas-holder by a shortrsection of pipe 32, in which latter is interposed acut-off valve 33, normally kept closed but adapted to be automatically opened to bring the blow-off pipe into communication with the service-pipe and gas-holder upon the creation ofa dangerous pressure in the gas-holder. In the conductor-pipe 29, at the'junction of the blow-off pipe therewith, is a three-way valve 34, Figs. 3 and 6, which in one position cuts out the blow-off and in the other closes the conductor pipe. To the stem of this valve is secured an arm 35, the free end of which terminates in a book 36, adapted to engage a pin 37, located in the margin of a cover 38, that serves to hermetically close the top of the generator box or casing 7. As additional means for locking said cover in place the opposite end walls of the casing 7 are provided with brackets 39, to which latter are pivoted, respectively, a pair of latches 40, adapted to be swung upwardly into vertical position to hook over and engage pins 41 in the opposite.

ends of the cover 33. The relation of the valve 34 to its operating-arm is such that when the arm is in the elevated and hooked position (shown in Fig. 2) the pipe 29 is open and the blow-off pipe cut out; but when the arm is turned down into a horizontal position the pipe 29is closed and the generator is thrown into communication with the blow-off 31.

Referring now to the means whereby the feed of the carbid to the water-chamber is antomatically affected by the rise and fall of the gas-holder, 42 designates a rock-shaft, which is journaled transversely of and upon the base of the casing 7 at one end thereof, one end of this shaft overhanging the side of the casing and being provided with a combination star and ratchet disk 43, fast thereon. As will be seen by reference to Fig. 5, this disk has formed upon substantially one half of its periphery a series of star-teeth 43 and upon the other half of its periphery a corresponding series of ratchetteeth,43 On the shaft 42 and lying in a transverse plane across the face of the disk 43 is a forked lever 44, which lever straddles the disk, as shown in Fig. 3, and has pivotally suspended from its closed end a dog 45, which is adapted to cooperate with the ratchetteeth of the disk. As stated, this lever is fulcrumed upon the rock-shaft 42, (see Fig. 5,) and the oppositely-projecting end thereof is connected to one end of a tension-spring 46, the lower end of which spring is secured to any fixed point of attachment, as one of the frame-supports 6. The heel of the dog 45 has loosely suspended therefrom a downwardly-hanging rod 47, guided in keepers 48 and 49 and atits lower end terminating in a stirrup 50, which lies in the path of the outwardly-projecting extremity of a finger 51, secured to and overhanging the periphery of the top plateor cover of the gas-holder. The closed end of the lever 44, to which the dog 45 is pivoted, has one member 44 of an upstanding thumb-clamp, the companion member (indicated at 45) bein g formed on the heel of the dog 45. The mechanism thus far described constitutes the means for turning the rockshaft intermittently in a direction to cause the advance of the carbid crate or carrier and the successive discharge of'the carbid-cartridges to the generating-tank.

7 We will next describe the means we have devised for controlling the rotation of the disk 43, locking the same against movement at all times except when it is to be positively advanced, thereby locking the carbid -holder against movement in either direction between the intermittent advance movements positively imparted thereto.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 5, 52 designates a bail-shaped detent-support, the inwardlyextending parallel side arms of which are fast on the extremities of a pivot-rod 53, rotatably mounted in a pair of lugs 54 and .55, extending horizontally from the outer face of the side wall of the casing 7, which is adjacent the gas-holder. As shown in Fig. 3, this detentsupport is pivoted directly above the overhanging end of the rock-shaft 42 and its actuating mechanism already described," and said support sustains the outer portion of a horizontally-extending detent-finger 56, having its inner end pivoted on the rod 53, while its outer end projects over the periphery of the disk 43 and is adapted to lie transversely between adjacent star-teeth 43 of the disk 43. To the support 52 is connected, as at 52 the upper end of an actuating-rod 57, the lower end of which rests upon and is suitably secured to one arm of the lever 44 on the opposite side of the fulcrum from the dog 45, as plainly shown in Fig. 5. Hence it will be observed that the mechanism last described constitutes an automatic escapement for the combined star and ratchet disk to prevent the turning of the disk in either direction at all timesexcept when the ratchetteeth thereon are positively engaged by the dog for-the purpose of advancing the disk. The oscillations of the rock-shaft setup and controlled by the mechanism last described are conveyed to the carbid-tray by any suitable connections, thoseherein shown consisting of an arm 58, keyed fast on the shaft 42 within the box 7 and at itsouter end pivotally connected to alink59, the opposite end of which link is pivoted in a staple 60, secured in the adjacent edge of the tray-guide 21.

61, Fig. 1, designates a drain-valve applied to the elbow-casting 29 which unites the vertical and horizontal sections 29 and 29 of the main conductor-pipe at the base of the apparatus for the purpose of draining the gas-holder and gas-conductor pipe of condensed moisture when found necessary or desirable.

Assuming that the cut-off valve 33, controlling the connection between the service and blow-oft pipes, is closed, so as to cut the blow-off pipe out of thesystem, the operation of the apparatus is substantially as follows The crate 17 being filled with cartridges loaded with carbid, (herein shown as twelve in number,) the foremost cartridge, or that occupying a position nearest to the rockshaft 42, as herein shown, is permitted to drop through the opening in the bottom of the casing or box 7 into the chute 8, by the converging walls of which it is guided and directed into the flexible discharge'tube 9, through which it falls into the body 0t water contained within the bucket or tank 11. The gas generated by the contact of this carbid with the water rises through the tube 9, hopper 8, opening in the base of the box 7, and the empty compartments of the carbid-crate, and passes thence down through the conductor-pipe 29, traversing successively the several vertical and horizontal sections 29 to 29 thereof, and finally emerging into the gasholder 23 through the bottom of the latter. The generation of gas and its supply to the gasholder takes place rapidly, and the increasing volume ofgas in the holder causes the latter to expand and the top thereof to rise until the holder is nearly or entirely filled to its highest limit and occupies a position substantially as illustrated in Fig. 1. Upon the subsequent consumption of the gas through the servicepipe 30 the volume of gas in the holder of course decreases and the holder gradually collapses, the top thereof slowly settling and carrying with it the projecting finger 51. This continues until the top of the holder has dropped to a position where the finger 51 engages the stirrup 50 of the dog-actuating rod 47. The further downward movement of the top of the holder through the connectoo tions described rocks the dog 45 into engagement with the ratchet-teeth of the disk 43, at the same time rocking the lever 44 on its pivot and through the push-rod 5'7 lifting the detent 56 out of engagement with the star-teeth of the said disk. Upon the continued fall of the top of the holder the disk 43 is thus partially rotated, thus etfecting the corresponding partial rotation of the rock-shaft 42 and through the arm'58 and link 59 advancing the carbid-crate over the opening in the bottom of its containing-box sufficiently to cause the next cartridge to fall through the opening and into the generating-tank. The additional volume of gas thus generated soon causes a rexpansion of the gas-holder, and upon the rise of the finger or tappet 51 from the stirrup 50 the spring 46 contracts, tilting the lever 44 in the opposite direction, permitting the detent 56 to drop into engagement with the star-teeth of the disk and at the same time permitting the dog 45 to be rocked out of engagement with the cooperating ratchet-teeth of the disk. The supply of gas to the service-pipe then continues as before until the holder has again collapsed to a point sufficient to carry the finger 51 into en gagement with the stirrup 50, whereupon the rock-shaft 42 is given a further partial rotation, still further advancing the carbid-crate, causing the fallofa third cartridge,with the resultsalreadydescribed. Thisoperationiscontinned until the last cartridge contained within the crate 17 has been discharged. The cover 38 is then removed, and by clamping together the members 445 and 45 of the thumb-clamp and at the same time depressing that end of the lever 44: the detent 56 and the dog 45 are simultaneously withdrawn from the periphcry of the disk, thus enabling the carbid-crate to be drawn back by hand into initial position. The tray is then reloaded, the cover 38 replaced and locked, and the hereinabove-described operations repeated. In this operation of refilling the tray the valve-arm 35 is of course turned down to a horizontal position before the cover 38 can be removed, thus through the three-way valve 3& placing the generator and the tray-holder 7and their connections into communication with the blowofi, and so ventingithese parts before the same are opened to the atmosphere by the removal of the cover 38. In this operation the threeway valve 34 at the same time automatically closes the discharge-pipe 29 against escape therethrough of gas in the gas-tank to the atmosphere.

Our invention contemplates the provision of means whereby in case of the presence of an abnormal and dangerous volume or pressure of gas in the holder the blow-oif pipe will be automatically placed in communication with said holder to relieve the abnormal pressure existing therein, this means also preferably comprehending a means whereby on the reduction of the volume and pressure in the holder to normal or therebelow the blowoff pipe will be likewise automatically cut off again from communication with the gasholder. The means we have devised for this purpose are best illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4,

wherein it will be seen that the horizontally extending stem of the cut-0E valve 33 is provided with an actuating device in the form of a substantially V-shaped member 62, secured at its contracted or closed end on the valve-stem and having its outwardly-divergent arms 62 and 62 -lying in the same vertical plane. It will be observed that the outer extremity of the arm 62 is downwardly turned or curved, as shown at 62, for a purpose that will hereinafter appear. To the top of the gas-holder and projecting over the edge thereof is secured a finger 63, the projecting portion of which is provided with a suitablyformed contact-bar 63*, designed for engagement alternately with the arms 62 and 62 of the valve-actuating member 62, already described. The valve 33, which is normally closed, is located at such a height that its actuating-arin will not be reached by the contact-bar 63 in the normal expansions and con-- tractions of the gas-holder; but when the latter is expanded to an abnormal height the finger 63, with its contact-bar 63, will be carried upwardly into engagement with the arm 62 and through the rocking of said arm will open the valve and permit the gas to escape to the blow-01f. Upon the subsequent descent of the top of the gas-holder, resulting from the above-described relief of the high pressure, the finger 63 will fall and in so doing Will contact the free curved end 62 of the lower arm 62", rocking the latter sufficiently to close the valve and thereafter riding idly over and past the curved end of the arm. By giving to the outer end of the lower arm 62 the downwardly-turned formation and by forming that face of the contact-bar 63 which rides past and contacts the curved and 62 of said ar'm obliquely thereto, as shown at 63 in Fig. 4, the contact-bar will be sprung laterally by said lower arm in passing the same without danger of being blocked thereby on its upward movement and on its downward movement will insure a full closing of the valve. This device affords, in effect, an automatic safety-valve to prevent danger to the apparatus from the presence therein of a pressure exceeding that normally designed to be maintained.

It will be observed that the generator-tank 11 is in the nature of a portable bucket or pail and can readily be removed for the purpose of emptying the sludge and replenishing the Water. In order to remove said bucket, it is necessary only to loosen the thumb-nuts 13 and withdraw the pins 14 from the slots of the ears 10 without disturbing the relative positions of any of the superposed parts. It will also be observed that We do away with all water seals, there being no water about the apparatus except what is contained within the generator itself. The provision of a flexible discharge tube or conduit between the carbid-holder and the water-tank has a distinct function and advantage in connection with a car-lighting system, since in case of an accident involving the overturning of the car and of the carbid-holder and its supporting-frame the flexibility of the connectingtube 9 will serve to prevent the overturning of the Water-tank and the consequent admission of water to the carbid-chamber.

The gas-holder may obviouslybe located on any side of the generator, though preferably closely adjacent thereto, in order that the rise and fall thereof may convenient-1y efiect the operation of the carbid-feed mechanism attached to the generator. For the sake of greater rigidity and stability of the parts we preferably connect the upper ends of the generator and gas-holder frames by a suitable horizontal, braceas, for instance, the Y- shaped brace 64. (Shown in Figs. 1 and It will be observed that with reference to the feed of carbid to the water-tank our invention provides a stop or brake mechanism in the form of the combined star and ratchet wheel 43 and the detect-finger 56, which looks the actuating mechanism of the carbid-tray against movement in either direction except at and during the intervals when the tray is positively advanced for the discharge ofa fresh supply of carbid. This feature is of peculiar importance in view of the fact that the machine of our invention has been designed more especially for use in connection with the lighting of railway-cars, locomotiveheadlights, &c., wherein the jar and vibration to which the machine is subjected would be liable to create accidental movements of the tray and discharges of carbid therefrom were the tray-actuating mechanism not positively locked against movement in any direction.

-1Ve claim 1. In an acetylene-gas machine, the combination with a water'tank, a superposed casing having an opening formed transversely through its base one margin of which is of stepped or staggered formation, and a carbiddelivery chute connecting said opening with the top of the water-tank, of an open-bottomed carbid-tray divided by longitudinal and transverse partitions int-o a plurality of carbid-compartments disposed transversely of and mounted to reciprocate in said casing over said opening, and means for effecting an intermittent travel of said carbid-tray over said opening to effect the successive falls of the carbid charges over the stepped margin of the opening into the water-tank, substantially as described.

2. In an acetylene-gas machine, the combination with a water-tank, asnperposed casing having an opening formed transversely through its base onemargin of which is of stepped or staggered formation, and a carbid hopper and chute connecting said opening with the top of the water-tank, of an openbottomed carbid-tray divided by longitudinal and transverse partitions into a plurality of carbid-compartments disposed transversely of and mounted toreciprocate in said casing.

over said opening, and automatic means for edeciing a step-by-step travel of said carbid-tray over said opening to effect the successive falls of the carbid charges over the stepped margin of the opening into the water-tank, substantially as described.

3. In an acetylene-gas machine, the combination with a water-tank, asuperposed casing having I an opening formed transversely through its baseone margin of which is of obliquely stepped or staggered formation, and a carbid hopper and chute connecting said opening with the top of the water-tank, of an open-bottomed carbidtray divided by longitudinal and transverse partitions into-a plurality of carbid-compartments obliquely disposed and mounted to reciprocate in said casing over said opening, and means actuated through the contraction of the volume of gas generated below a predetermined point for elfectingan intermittent travel of said carbidtray in one direction over said opening to effeet the successive falls of the carbid charges over the stepped margin of the opening into the Water-tank, substantially as described.

4. In an acetylene-gas machine, the combination with a generating-chamber and an expansible gas-holder in communication therewith, of an openbottomed carbid-holder adapted to contain sepa rate charges of carbid, a support for said carbid-holder having an opening in its baseover which the carbidholder is caused to travel by a step-by-step sliding movement, driving connections for said carbid-holder, an actuating device for said-driving connections carried by the gasholdcr and operating upon the collapse of the latter, and an automatic detent cooperating with said driving connections and normally locking thelat'ter against movement in either direction, substantially as described.

5. In an acetylene-gas machine, the combination with a generating-chamber and an expansible gas-holder in communication therewith, of an open -bottomed carbid-holder adapted to contain separate charges of carbid, a support for said carbid-holder having an opening in its base over which the carbid holder is caused to travel by a step-by-step sliding movement, a rock-shaft mounted in said support, an arm-and-link connection between said shaft and the carbid-holder, a ratchet-wheel on said shaft, an actuating-dog therefor pivoted adjacent thereto, a vertically-movable finger projecting from a movable portion of the gas-holder, and a dog-actuating rod so disposed as to be engaged by said finger upon the contraction of the gasholder below a predetermined height, substantially as described.

6. In an acetylene-gas machine, the combination with a generating-chamber and an expansible gas-holder in communication therewith, of an open-bottomed carbid-holder adapted to contain separate charges of carbid, a support for said carbid-holder having an opening in its base over which the carbidholder is caused to travel by a step-by step sliding movement, a rock-shaft mounted in said support, an arm-and-link connection between said shaft and the oarbid-holder, a combined starand' ratchet wheel on said shaft, a detent-finger normally locking the latter against movement in either direction, an actuating-dog therefor pivoted adjacent thereto, a vertically-movable finger projecting from a movable portion of the gas-holder, and a dogactnating rod so disposed as to be engaged by said finger upon the contraction of the gasholder below a predetermined height, substantially as described. 7 r

7. In an acetylene-gas machine, the combination with a generator, a gas-holder disposed alongside thereof, and a discharge-pipe connecting the two, of a service-pipe tapping said discharge-pipe, a blow-elf pipe likewise ICO communicating with said discharge-pipe, a pipe connection between said blow-off and service pipes, a cut-off valve therein, a valveactuating device on the stem of said cut-off valve, and a finger mounted on the movable portion of the gas-holder adapted to engage said actuating device of the cut-off valve on the expansion of the gas-holder beyond a predetermined limit, substantially as described.

'8. In an acetylene-gas machine, the combination with an upright frame, of a carbidholder and feed mechanism supported at the top thereof, a hopper connected to and communicating with the bottom of said carbidholder, a flexible tube constituting a guidechute secured to the discharge-month of the hopper, and a portable generator-tank removably connected to the lower end of said tube, substantially as described.-

JOHN S. HARGER. ROBERT E. BALDWIN.

Witnesses:

SAMUEL N. POND, FREDERICK O. GooDWIN. 

